Fernando Alonso sarcastically applauded Lewis Hamilton after feeling obstructed by his Formula 1 rival during practice at the Mexico City Grand Prix. The incident, unseen on TV, occurred when Alonso had to abort a flying lap due to encountering a Ferrari in front of him on the track.
Alonso found himself behind Hamilton in a narrow and winding section of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit, where the limited space forced Hamilton to release dirty air, unsettling Alonso’s car.
Expressing his displeasure, Alonso pulled up next to the Ferrari, slowed down, and applauded sarcastically with both hands off the steering wheel. Despite differing opinions, many fans watching through Alonso’s onboard feed believed Hamilton was not at fault.
Alonso and Hamilton, both seasoned drivers with a rivalry dating back to 2007, have a history of clashes. Their contentious partnership at McLaren resulted in lost points and allowed Kimi Raikkonen to clinch the championship. This recent incident adds to Alonso’s frustration with Hamilton, following a previous dispute after the Singapore Grand Prix.
In that instance, Alonso criticized Hamilton for corner-cutting due to a brake failure, which led to a penalty for Hamilton post-race, pushing him behind Alonso in the final standings.
Fans observing the Alonso-Hamilton dynamic have been vocal on social media, with some defending Hamilton’s actions and others supporting Alonso’s perspective. The ongoing rivalry between these two F1 icons continues to captivate audiences, highlighting the intense competition at the highest level of motorsport.
